Autumn 2017 Starshell ‘A Little Light on What’S Going On!’
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Volume VII, No. 80, Autumn 2017 Starshell ‘A little light on what’s going on!’ Naval Association of Canada “The Barber Pole” The Flower-class corvette HMCS Sackville (Canada’s Naval Memorial) preserved and exhibited in Halifax, NS), displays the “barber pole” stripes on her stack indicating she was a member of the 5th Escort Squadron during the Battle of the Atlantic. Starshell For more information see “The Story of the Barber Pole” on page 47. Silent ISSN-1191-1166 Photo courtesy “For Posterity’s Sake” and “Wikipedia” National magazine of the Naval Association of Canada To make the Type 26 the world’s most Magazine nationale de L’Association Navale du Canada advanced anti-submarine frigate, we have www.navalassoc.ca made it exceptionally quiet by reducing the sound signature of its hull and In this edition… PATRON • HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh engines. It’s an essential advantage. HONORARY PRESIDENT • H. R. (Harry) Steele A Parting Note from your Editor 4 From the Bridge 4 PRESIDENT • Bill Conconi, [email protected] • The Front Desk 5 PAST PRESIDENT Jim Carruthers, [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT • Barry Walker, [email protected] The 2017 NAC Conference, St. John’s, Newfoundland 7 TREASURER • King Wan, [email protected] Starshell Editor Required Immediately 9 NAVAL AFFAIRS • Ian Parker, [email protected] Stong, Secure and Engaged 10 HISTORY & HERITAGE • Dr. Alec Douglas, [email protected] Request from the Naval Museum of Manitoba 13 HONORARY COUNSEL • Donald Grant, [email protected] Schober’s Quiz #77 15 ARCHIVIST • Richard Gimblett, [email protected] The Briefing Room 16 AUSN LIAISON • Fred F. Abbott, [email protected] • NAC Awards for 2017 20 CHAIR ENDOWMENT FUND Michael Morres, [email protected] OBITS EDITOR • Pat Barnhouse, [email protected] NAC Endowment Fund Grants for 2017 21 WEBMASTER • David Soule, [email protected] The Last Post Fund: A History of Service & Dedication 22 Fraser McKee: Late Discovered Successes 23 STARSHELL EDITOR NAC National Conference in Photos 26 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SEC’Y / COMMUNICATIONS This Will Have to Do: Part #17 “Staff Officer Anti-Submarine” 28 David Soule George A. Moore Additional Photos from the NAC Conference in St. John’s 36 1138 Sauterne Pk 1871 Primrose Crescent Orleans ON K1C 2N8 Kamloops BC V1S 0A5 NAC Regalia Sales 37 Telephone 613-837-4026 Telephone 250-314-1284 Answers to Schober’s Quiz #77 39 [email protected] [email protected] Starshell Book Reviews 41 STARSHELL magazine is published quarterly by the Naval Association of Canada An Early Battle of the Atlantic Cooperative Success 44 (NAC) in February, May, August and November. The editor is solely responsible The Story of the Barber Pole 47 for the selection of material. Contributions are encouraged and should be sent direct to the editor. PLEASE NOTE: ALL MATERIAL MUST REACH THE EDITOR Endowment Fund Donation Form 48 NO LATER THAN THE 15TH DAY OF THE MONTH PRIOR TO THE MONTH OF Obituaries and In Memoriam 50 PUBLICATION. All photographs submitted for publication must be accompa- nied by suitable captions and accreditation. CHANGES OF ADDRESS ARE TO BE Our Navy: “The Merchant Navy” 52 SENT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NOT THE EDITOR. The opinions expressed in this publication are deemed to be exclusively those of the author(s) and are not necessarily shared by the Naval Association of Canada, the Royal Canadian Navy or the Department of National Defence. If copyright is Starshell is printed in Canada by Postlink Corporation, Ottawa specified for any item, permission to copy must first be obtained through the edi- tor, otherwise material may be copied without permission provided appropriate attribution is given to both the author(s) and STARSHELL. Editorial services, layout and design are provided by DISTRIBUTION and SUBSCRIPTIONS – STARSHELL circulation exceeds 2,000 ® Cascade Creek Publishing copies and is distributed to members of NAC, HMC Ships and shore establish- ments, NDHQ and other interested individuals. Except for copyright material, LCdr (Ret’d) George A. Moore, President copying and internal circulation to interested individuals is encouraged. Non- 1871 Primrose Crescent, Kamloops, BC V1S 0A5 members may subscribe by sending $20.00 in Canada, $25.00 elsewhere for Telephone 250-314-1284 each subscription to the Executive Director. Cellular 778-220-2868 Mobile (Satellite) 778-538-6831 [email protected] [email protected] www.baesystems.com Copyright © 2017 BAE Systems Silent To make the Type 26 the world’s most advanced anti-submarine frigate, we have made it exceptionally quiet by reducing the sound signature of its hull and engines. It’s an essential advantage. www.baesystems.com Copyright © 2017 BAE Systems A parting note from your editor George A. Moore, Editor, [email protected] NAVAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA ASSOCIATION NAVALE DU CANADA ell, here it is, my final issue as your Editor and it research in compiling our obituary column, George Schober greatly saddens me to state that as of the mid-De- for all 79 of his educational and entertaining “Schober’s Wcember no one has come forward to assume the Quiz’s;” Jeff Gilmour and Rob Huebert of Calgary for sharing position. The future of Starshell is currently in the hands of their learned critiques of our government’s actions or the lack the NAC Board of Directors who must decide the way ahead thereof when it comes to our Navy; Hamish Berchem for his for our publication, i.e., will it continue in its current form talented and artistic “Our Navy” contributions to Starshell’s (printed magazine); or in some format yet to be determined ‘stern’ featuring the activities of the RCN and Merchant Navy possibly on line, or be permanently retired. After 20 years over the years, and last but certainly not least, all of my dedi- and 80 issues, your’s truly is way past his ‘best-before’ date. cated book reviewers including: Peter Williamson, Gordon I’ve enjoyed every minute of it but the time has definitely ar- Forbes, Fraser McKee, Bob Thomas and Mike Young who, rived for some ‘new blood.’ incidentally, I succeeded as Starshell editor 20 years ago— I could not have managed 20 years without the valued geeze Mike, it seems like yesterday! If I missed anyone I offer contributions of a select few who deserve a hearty ‘BZ’ my sincere apologies. Meanwhile, I leave you in the fervent for their continued support: (in no particular order) Fraser hope this issue of Starshell is not the last; that someone out McKee for his numerous informative naval vignettes and wis- there will ultimately step up to the plate and carry on! dom instilled over the years; Bill Clearihue for his informative “Bill’s Corner” contributions; Pat Barnhouse for his tireless Yours aye, George From the bridge Jim Carruthers | National President | [email protected] NAVAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA Bill Conconi, National President, [email protected] ASSOCIATION NAVALE DU CANADA s outlined by Jim Carruthers in the last issue of Affairs Committee as we look to retain and direct staff to Starshell, there has been a change of command on make this happen. Staff in this case refers to a Coordina- Athe bridge. I now have the task of guiding the process tor of Naval Affairs as well as a Research Coordinator. All as we move forward with our goal to support our Navy. A this is possible because of the hard work and dedication of task I very much respect and commit myself to. With Jim’s members from NAC-Ottawa, who through their efforts, have retirement, along with Dan Sing’s, our former head of Naval established the financial legacy to make this happen. We Affairs, they have jointly passed the torch to our new Board. are still in the beginning stages of this process and we look This is a challenge we all look forward to engaging. We owe forward to bringing you news as it unfolds. Jim and Dan a sincere thank you for their focus on our goal All this does not take away our responsibility to build our and getting us to the point where, as described in the latest membership, to support our Branches and to effectively iteration of “Canada’s Defence Policy,” we now have a new communicate with our members. As I write this, our new course established for our Navy. It is our goal to help bring Board is in the process of organizing themselves to take this this to success. on. In our next issue I will give a full report of our progress To help make this happen, Barry Walker has agreed to as we get ourselves organized. be Vice-President to provide an ongoing presence in Ot- Warmest all, Yours aye Bill tawa and Ian Parker has stepped forward to guide the Naval 4 Starshell | Autumn 2017 TheFrom front the desk bridge… NAVAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA DavidJim CarruthersSoule, Executive | National Director, President [email protected] | [email protected] ASSOCIATION NAVALE DU CANADA his is my first “Front Desk” as your new Executive Di- group of nominees. There is still room for improvement and I rector for NAC National and it is my pleasure to report will be seeking guidance from the Nominating Committee to Tthat the recent 2017 AGM and associated Conference implement further enhancements for the 2018 AGM. held at St. John’s, 20 to 22 October 2017, was a great suc- The new Directors, with a term expiring in 2020, are Brian cess. The local members of NLNAC pulled out all the stops Cook (returning member), Mike Hoare, Barry Walker, Mark to ensure every aspect of the AGM and conference program Phillips, Ian Parker and Rod Hughes.